Projectile.



W. M. DGUGLAS.

PROJEGTIVLE. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1s, `1912.

Patented Aug. 5, 1913.

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@nvm/vbo@ W. zyouyld W. M. DOUGLAS.

PROJEGTILB.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG.1B, 1912.

Patented Aug. 5, 1913.

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imay he inade in any LROJECTILE;

Speccation of Letters Patent.

lpatented Aug. 5, Ili'.

ppiication tiled August 16, 1912. Serial No. 715,404.

To ail fio/lem mm; concern.'

noun that l, 'iilinniaii M. Donc-- Las, a citizen or' the United States, residing at Galveston, in. the county ot Galveston und State of Texas, have iiivented certain new and useful improvements in lro'jectiles, of which the Jfollowing is a specification.

The present invention relates to projectiles and has particular reference to a shell which is adapted to be tired from a gun to penetrate theV olf-ject aimed at and subsequently explode therein.

An importantohject of the invention is to provide proiectile oif the above inentioned cw noter, so constructed that the sane "afin have e high armor penetratingr eiiiciency and a very large explosive material carrying capacity, whereby the exoiosiou of the shell subsequently to its peneration into or tnrough the armor will be 'very disastrous.

further chfect of the invention is to or ide shell of above mentioned char-- ester which is accurate in flight tln'ouicghy long and capa-ble of proper penetration and ex lodin'r in a disastrous inani? ner far in excess of the present armor piercing shells and equahng the present torpedo shells.

ebiect olf the invention is to provide a projectile of the above mentioned character', which is comparatively safe to handle, easy to manufacture, and

desired caliber.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the jiollowing; description.

in the accompanying drawin s forming aart of this specication an in which numerals are employed to designate throughout the saine, Figure 1 is side vieu' or my improved shell, Fig. 2 is central longitudinal sectio'nal view through the saine, 3 is a side view of the inner traine or body' portion of the shell, Fig. e is a horizontal sectional View. teiten on line Ll-f-i ot Fig. 2, Eig. 5 is a side View of the niolded explosive, Fig. (i is a horizontal sectional View taken on line 'dw-t3 oi Fig. 5, Fig. T is a side View, partly i section, of a slightly different torni of the invention, and, Fig. 8 is a horizontal sectional View taxen on line 8-8 ot' Fig. 7.

ln the drawings wherein for the purpose A further of illustration, l have shown a preferred embodiment oit my invention, the nuineral 1 designates an inner frame or body portion of the projectile, which is formed of very hard steel. This inner traine comprises a solid head l0, which is suitably tapered or of the proper contour to successfully penetrate armor plate. Formed integral with this penetrating head l are legs ll, which are spaced and preferably diaineti'icaily arranged, as clearly shown` in Fig. 4. These legs are stitiened or reinforced by inner longitudinal ribs l2, as shown. The numeral i3 designates a preferably previously iuolded uniss of gun cotton or other explosive, adapted for insertion between the legs l1 and having longitudinal openings formed therein to receive the legs. The outer surface or periphery of the explosive mass or charge 13 is preferably flush with the outer surface of the legs ll, as shown. Attention is called to the distrihiit-ion and amount of the inetal in the traine 9,. ivhereby the shell has -higli arinor plate penetrating etliciency and a very large chamber or spa-ce provided for holding the maxinn'nn I.unount of' explosive charge. rThe numeral 14e designates a base, which is attached to reduced extensions l oi the legs il, by means of bolts or rivets l). The base 14 is provided with an annular recess to receive a rotating ring 17, which'is rigidly, connected with the base 14 and servesto impart rotation to the shell. Surrounding the legs 11 is a jacket. 1S, formed of mild steel and connected with the legs ll at one end, by the bolts or rivets 16, as shown. Surrounding the penetrating head l0 is a cap or wind shield 19, which is suitably tapered or of a contour to insure accuracy in flight ot the-shell. This cap lf) is pret'- erably formed of mild steel and is connected-With the jacket- 18-by bolts or rivets 20, which preferably have connection with the legs 1l. At its ends the cap i9 is provided with a screw-threaded opening, which is normally closed by a boit-like plug;` 2l.

Mounted upon the ends ot' the penetrating head is a protecting` block or eap 22, which is foi-ined of soft steel and is held from accidental displacement by fixed arms Q3. The function of this protecting cap or block 9,2 is to absorb the energy or impact and thus relieve the inner frame of any considerable strain, while producing an elastic dishing of the 'armor piste fired at. rlhe function of theplug 2l. is to provide an opening for the introduction of water, if .required, to wet down the gun cdtton or xplosive mass 13. Connected with the base 14 is a Centrifugal fuse 24 of any Well known or preferred type. The numeral 25 designates a detonator attached to the centrifugal fuse and preferably formed of dry gun cotton.

in Figs. 7 and 8, I have dispensed With the jacket 18 and have substituted therefor panels 26, which are preferably formed of mild steel. These panels are of course curved in cross-section, to conformto the curvature of the legs. The/panels 26 may be held in place by any suitable means. It is thus seen that the panels 26 together with the legs l1 form a large chamber for receiving the explosive mass. When the explosive mass or charge is of powder or the like and is fed into the chamber formed by the panels 26 and legs l1 by removingthe base 14, said panels 26 maybe connecter] with reinforcing spiders 27. I may also dispense with these spiders and cast the panels 26 integral with the legs 11.

The operation of the projectile is as follows The projectile is shot vfrom a gun properly aimed at the object to be hit. j Thewind shield or ca 19 causes the projectile to have accuracy 1n flight.\ iVhen the projectile strikes the armor plate or the like, the head 10 penetrates the same and the' explosive mass 13 explodes soon afterward.

The reinforcing legs 11 strengthen the inner frame or body portion of the projectile and also provide a very large chamber or recess for holding the maximumA amountrof explosive charge, whereby the explosion which occurs after the penetration of the ar'mor plate will be very disastrous.

I wish it understood that I' do not restric myself to the employment of gun cotton as an explosive agent alone, as any Well known or preferred type of explosive agent may be employed. It is ordinarily preferable, however, to employ an explosive agent which may be molded into a suitable form, to be slipped into the space or openingr formed.

within the legs ll. Q

It is to be understood that I do not restrict myself to the forms of my invention herewith set forth, but that certain changes.

in the shapes, sizes, and arrangements of parts may be resorted to Wit-hout departing from the spirit of the i'nvention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:-. f

l.. InY a 'projectile of the character described, an inner ra'me'including a pene'- trating' head carrying trailing spaced legs for providing a very large chamber, an explosive charge disposed within the chamber,

incase? and means to explode said explosive charge after the impact of the 'penetrating head with thearmor plate vor other object aimed at. y i

2. In a projectile of the character described, an inner frame including a penetratinp; head carrying-av suitable number of spaced trailing legs to provide a very large chamber Within and between the same, a

' mass of explosive material disposed Within said chamber, 'means disposed adjacent the spaced legs to prevent the explosive material trom passing between the same out of its chamber, and means to explode said mass of explosive material afterthe impact ot the penetrating, head `with the armor plate or other object aimed at.

3. In a projectile` of the character described, an innerframe comprising a penetrating head carrying; spaced trailing; legs suitably stiffened by reinforcing ribs, a. jacket surrounding the spacedjle 5s to form therewith a large chamber, a mass of'explosive material disposed within said large chamber, andmeans to explode said mass of explosive material after the penetrating head impacts with the armor plate or other object aimed at.

si. In a projectile of the character described, an inner frame comprising a penetrating head carrying spaced trailing; legs suitably stifiened by reinforcing ribs, a jacket surrounding the spaced legs to form therewith a large chamber, a, mass of explosive material disposed Within said large chamber, means to explode said mass of explosive material after the penetrating head impacts with the armor plate or other object aimed atf, and a suitably taperedl cap surrounding the penetrating head and connected therewith to insure accuracy in Hight 'ofthe projectile.

5. In a projectile of the character described, an inner frame comprising a penetrating head carrying' spaced Itrailing legs providing therebetween a large chamber, a

suitably molded mas'sof explosive material adapted for insertion Within the chamber through' the open end of the same, a base connected with said legs to ciose said open end of the chamber, a suitably long tapered cap surrounding the penetrating head and connected. Vtherewitli -t/o insure accurate flight of the projectile, and means 4to eaplode said explosive material alter the impact of the penetrating head with` the armor plate or other object aimed at. l

6. In a projectile of the character. described, an inner frame comprising a suitably tapered penetrating head carrying' spaced substantially diametrically arranged longitudinal trailing legs reinforced with longitudinal ribs and lproviding; a large` chamber having one end thereof normally open, a jacket surrounding the' legs, a mass extending suitably stiff smi of explosive material disposed williiii the chamber, a base coniiectecl ivili. die legs io close the open end of the chambei', ineens associated with the oase to explode 'the me of explosive materiel aei iiie head impacts with the armo? object aimed at, a suitably long incl tzigveieci. cap surrounding the penetrating' head mid 'connected with the jackel; Lo iiisiiie ou" iii flight or" the pi'ojeclile7 and Jig; cap oi'mecl oi' soft steel and mounted iigei the end of the penetrating; liead between lie same and the ends 0 the ii'st lie-mesi cap,

7. In a projectile of the diameter de scribed, a penetrating heul, longiiuiliiielly legs coiinected With lhe penetiating head speciali relatively far apa-rt for pfovifliig mum charge receiving chaiiber wie i tends for a considerable distance outv. and radially beyond the inner sur trailing .legs and an explosive charge disl winiii die chamber. :i piojec'ile of the character dee, peneialing lien-cl, longitudinally soieely saiff #failing legs connect lie ling end of the penetrating Space@ 'relatively far aparty for piomximum cli-arge ieceiving chainextends foi a considerable dis- .ioily amil melially beyond the in- Ces oi he wailing legs, an explosive disposed within the chamber, a base el Willi lle legs,s and means carried me to explode the explosive charge.

' whereof nel' su cheige este affix my signature 

